Climate guide for Ghent, Belgium

Best Time to Visit
Ghent

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
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About Ghent

Choose May-September for this rhythm: climb the Belfry, boat the Lys, and graze on Graslei terraces. Long summer evenings stretch riverside café time.

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Travel Tips

Graslei Before Groups
Graslei and Korenmarkt glow early before day coaches. Climb the Belfry at opening for clearer canal views.
Trams & Bike Culture
Trams link the station to the historic core; the centre is best walked or biked. Watch for silent cyclists when stepping off pavements.
Altarpiece Tickets
St Bavo’s Cathedral tickets for the Ghent Altarpiece are timed and popular - book ahead. Boat tours along the Lys sell on the quay.
Student City Evenings
Ghent’s student energy means lively evenings and late kitchens. Cobbles are slick in rain - waterproof shoes help more than umbrellas alone.

Things to do in Ghent

Ghent, Belgium. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Ghent: the short answer

The best time to visit Ghent is June, followed by August, July. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: June averages 18°C with 59 mm of rain and about 26 sunny days. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are December, November. If budget matters more than perfect weather, November is the strongest of the low-rate months at 5.2/10.

Across the year Ghent swings from 5°C in January to 20°C in August, a 15-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 59 mm in June to 98 mm in November. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Ghent is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 4.6 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: August (20°C). Coolest: January (5°C). Driest: June (59 mm). Wettest: November (98 mm).

Ghent month by month

January in Ghent — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.3/10

January averages 5°C (40°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 70 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 11 sunny days and 8.5 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.3/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Ghent — 3.9 points higher on the same scale.

February in Ghent — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6/10

February averages 7°C (44°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 62 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 10 sunny days and 10 hours of daylight.

It scores 6/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Ghent — 3.2 points higher on the same scale.

March in Ghent — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.8/10

March averages 8°C (46°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 76 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 17 sunny days and 11.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 6.8/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Ghent — 2.4 points higher on the same scale.

April in Ghent — reliably good (6th best month)

Good · 7.8/10

April averages 10°C (50°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 72 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 24 sunny days and 13.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.8/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

May in Ghent — reliably good (4th best month)

Good · 8.3/10

May averages 14°C (58°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 81 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 27 sunny days and 15.6 hours of daylight.

It scores 8.3/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

June in Ghent — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.2/10

June averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 59 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 26 sunny days and 16.5 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Ghent at 9.2/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

July in Ghent — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.8/10

July averages 19°C (66°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 74 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 28 sunny days and 16 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Ghent at 8.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

August in Ghent — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9/10

August averages 20°C (67°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rainfall runs 65 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 28 sunny days and 14.5 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Ghent at 9/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.

September in Ghent — reliably good (5th best month)

Good · 8.2/10

September averages 17°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 89 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 24 sunny days and 12.6 hours of daylight.

It scores 8.2/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

October in Ghent — reliably good (7th best month)

Good · 7.4/10

October averages 13°C (56°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 79 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 19 sunny days and 10.7 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.4/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Ghent — 1.8 points higher on the same scale.

November in Ghent — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.2/10

November averages 8°C (47°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 98 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 10 sunny days and 8.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.2/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Ghent — 4 points higher on the same scale.

December in Ghent — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.6/10

December averages 6°C (42°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 85 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 5 sunny days and 8 hours of daylight.

It scores 4.6/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 9.2/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Ghent — 4.6 points higher on the same scale.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Ghent, Belgium?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Ghent are June, August, July, May, September. June is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 9.2/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and historical sunny days.
What is the weather like in Ghent year-round?
Ghent has a climate profile suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 5°C in January to 20°C in August, with Ideal Weather scores between 4.6 and 9.2 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Ghent?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Ghent are December (4.6/10), November (5.2/10), January (5.3/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer sunny days.
When is the rainy season in Ghent?
November is the wettest month in Ghent, averaging about 98 mm of rainfall. June is the driest, at roughly 59 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Ghent?
July sees the most sun in Ghent, with about 28 sunny days on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Ghent a good destination for sightseeing and cultural travel?
Ghent is well suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (June, August, July, May, September) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Ghent calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Ghent: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and historical sunny days - weighted for sightseeing and cultural travel.

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Curated in Ghent

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